Who Would Like This Book:
If you love stories sprinkled with magic, heart, and Southern charm, Other Birds is a real treat. The book wraps you in a cozy yet poignant blend of magical realism and explores themes of grief, found family, and healing. Readers who enjoy quirky characters, whimsical settings (Mallow Island is a gem!), immersive world-building, and tales of personal growth will find themselves right at home. It's perfect for fans of gentle, feel-good fiction with a touch of mystery and magic - especially those looking for books about hope and connection after loss.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some might find the shifting perspectives a bit confusing, especially if you prefer a straight-forward narrative. The story can feel slow to start, and the magical elements may not resonate if you're looking for something more grounded or plot-driven. If you’re averse to multiple characters' inner monologues or find subtle ghostly subplots unconvincing, this one may not click. And while many adore the comfort read aspect, those who crave high-stakes drama or sprawling epic adventures might find it too gentle.
About:
Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen is a magical realist novel set on Mallow Island, where a diverse group of wounded but brave characters come together to form a found family. The story revolves around Zoey, who inherits a condo from her late mother and embarks on a journey of self-discovery while connecting with the quirky residents of Dellawisp Condos, all touched by the mystical Dellawisps birds. The book weaves themes of love, grief, found families, and acceptance, with a touch of romance and a bittersweet tale of letting go of the past to build a brighter future.
Genres:
Tropes/Plot Devices:
Topics:
Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes surrounding grief, loss, and personal trauma that may resonate with readers.
From The Publisher:
The New York Times Bestseller
From the acclaimed author of Garden Spells comes an enchanting tale of lost souls, lonely strangers, secrets that shape us, and how the right flock can guide you home.
Down a narrow alley in the small coastal town of Mallow Island, South Carolina, lies a stunning cobblestone building comprised of five apartments. It's called The Dellawisp and it is named after the tiny turquoise birds who, alongside its human tenants, inhabit an air of magical secrecy.
When Zoey Hennessey comes to claim her deceased mother's apartment at The Dellawisp, she meets her quirky, enigmatic neighbors including a girl on the run, a grieving chef whose comfort food does not comfort him, two estranged middle-aged sisters, and three ghosts. Each with their own story. Each with their own longings. Each whose ending isn't yet written.
When one of her new neighbors dies under odd circumstances the night Zoey arrives, she is thrust into the mystery of The Dellawisp, which involves missing pages from a legendary writer whose work might be hidden there. She soon discovers that many unfinished stories permeate the place, and the people around her are in as much need of healing from wrongs of the past as she is. To find their way they have to learn how to trust each other, confront their deepest fears, and let go of what haunts them.
Delightful and atmospheric, Other Birds is filled with magical realism and moments of pure love that won't let you go. Sarah Addison Allen shows us that between the real and the imaginary, there are stories that take flight in the most extraordinary ways.
Ratings (22)
Incredible (5) | |
Loved It (7) | |
Liked It (5) | |
It Was OK (3) | |
Did Not Like (2) |
Reader Stats (63):
Read It (23) | |
Want To Read (35) | |
Not Interested (5) |
4 comment(s)
I had a hard time finding any of the characters believable. They seemed 1-dimensional. Also weird how a 26 year old can afford to purchase a condo on a resort island just by doing henna. The story did,t really grab me either, but I stuck it out. .
Other Birds tells the story of a group of residents living at the Dellawisp. Zoey heads there with her invisible bird named Pigeon to claim her deceased mother's apartment. She's extremely outgoing and, while waiting to begin college, she befriends the other Dellawisp residents. Each of them have a story and a ghost in their past. Some of those ghosts also reside at the Dellawisp.
Stories. History. Love. Loss. Fear. Friendship. These are all threads woven throughout this story.
Stories aren’t fiction. Stories are fabric. They’re the white sheets we drape over our ghosts so we can see them.
Some ghosts are more visible to some of the residents, but they each make their presence known. Sadly, for this horror girl, this wasn't a scary ghost story, but rather a story about how we move through life following loss or become stuck and how those we've lost may sometimes stay to help us in small ways until we free ourselves to live without them.
Having recently lost my mother, this was a difficult read for me. I'm not sure how much of my own issues affected my feelings about the book, but it was a tough read. I'm not really sure why else it was a just-okay read for me. However, some of the quirky characters fell a little flat for me; maybe there were too many narrative jumps, I'm not sure. I think I just expected more after seeing all of the high ratings and reviews. (★★★½)
4.5 stars
RTC
Relationships and plot
What can you read after
Other Birds?
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.
